SAMARA. Oct 2 (Interfax) - The maiden launch of Russia's new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle has been moved from 2025 to 2026, Progress Rocket and Space Center First Deputy General Director, General Designer Ravil Akhmetov said.
"Soyuz-5 is at a stage of development. Its maiden launch is due in 2026," Akhmetov said.
The Energia Rocket and Space Corporation is the lead developer of the Soyuz-5 medium-lift rocket, aka the Irtysh. The rocket is being developed as part of the Fenix project with the RD-171MV engine. The two-stage rocket will be launched from Baikonur as part of a joint project with Kazakhstan from the launch site previously used by Zenit rockets. Soyuz-5 can bring up to 17 tonnes of payload to a parking orbit.
Initially, the Soyuz-5's maiden launch from the prospective Russian-Kazakh Baiterek space complex in Baikonur was initially planned before the end of 2023. However, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov and Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Musin agreed to delay it until 2024.
Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said on June 27 that the inaugural launch from Baikonur's Baiterek space complex should be carried out in 2025.